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In an interview with Egyptian television, Abbas said that Hamas was refusing to achieve intra-Palestinian reconciliation because of Iranian opposition to a unity deal.

"We, the Palestinian people, are like a hijacked airplane," he said, as quoted by Ynet. "The decision-making power is not in our hands, but rather, in the hands of the Iranians. For that reason, the Palestinian people's unity, just like the plane, is also hijacked."

Abbas also addressed the recently launched indirect peace negotiations, charging that Israel "isn't serious" in the talks. "While the Arabs do not want war with Israel, Israel does not want negotiations," he was quoted as saying.

While Iran says it supports Hamas, the extent of cooperation between the two is unclear. Abbas is supported by the United States and the European Union.

Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006 and later formed a unity government with Fatah and other parties. In 2007, fearing a US-backed Fatah coup, Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, causing Abbas to dissolve the unity government. Efforts to reconcile the two parties have so far failed.